Description: The Ilyushin Il-76 is a medium military transport/cargo aircraft originally designed to provide support to the Soviet Army replacing the turboprop powered An-12. Dubbed Candid by NATO, has been suggested as the Soviet counterpart to the United States Air Force C-141 Starlifter cargo aircraft. The Il-76 was also developed to meet the requirements of civil cargo transport requirements. Originally, it was powered by four D-30KP turbofan engines which have been replaced in subsequent versions by the PS-90/PS-90AN fuel efficient engine. A rear ramp allows for rapid loading/off-loading of cargo, equipment and/or personnel. Many Il-76 aircraft versions have been produced for military customers (Il-76, Il-76M, Il-76MD and Il-76MF) and civil customers (Il-76TD, Il-76TD-90 and Il-76TF). The Il-78 dubbed 'Midas' is a version developed to play as a tanker aircraft (Il-78M and Il-78MK) and introduced in 1987. The Il-76 project was launched in the late 1960s and the maiden flight was carried out on March 25, 1971. Series production started in 1975. The Il-76 military transport aircraft were provided with two 23mm GSh-23L guns in the tail and require a seven-man aircrew.

In 1987 the Soviet Union's Air Force introduced the first Il-78, NATO dubbed 'Midas', air-to-air refueling aircraft based on the Il-76MD military transport aircraft. The Il-78 features two internal fuel tanks that can removed reverting the tanker to the freighter role. The Il-78M is an improved version equipped with three permanent fuel tanks and aimed at refueling three aircraft using three hose drum units. Two hose drum units are located under each wing and the other one on the rear starboard fuselage. The Il-78MK was build on the Il-78M. The Il-78MK tanker can provide in-flight refueling of up to three different aircraft in adverse visibility conditions or at night. On the ground it is capable of refueling up to four aircraft. The Il-78MK can be re-configured to provide transport of cargoes, personnel and/or equipment. The Il-78MK is powered by four D-30KP turbofan engines.

The IL-78MK-90 is a further version powered by more powerful PS-90A-76 turbofans, each rated at 35,000-lb, providing a maximum combined thrust of 140,000-lb at takeoff. The Il-78MK-90 adds two tons to the payload up to 50 tons and increases the cruise speed from 750 kph to 850 kph compared with the D-30KP powered Il-78MK. The landing run distance is shortened by 40 meters and can take off in 1,550 meters compared to 2,200 meters for the same aircraft powered by D-30KP engines.